Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. II

A lively collection of personal letters brings listeners into the bustling world of a 19th‑century Irish novelist as he wanders the sun‑lit streets of Florence and the hillside town of Spezzia. Written to his London publisher and close friends, the correspondence reveals his sharp wit, his worries about health, and his candid reflections on contemporary literary battles—especially his uneasy dance with criticism of his popular serial “Tony.” Alongside playful anecdotes about famed peers such as Thackeray, the letters also expose his restless ambition, from contemplating lecture tours in America to pondering a return to the Scottish stage.

The manuscript captures the writer’s voice at a pivotal moment, when his seasoned confidence meets a frail body and a restless imagination. Listeners will hear the humor in his self‑deprecating remarks, the earnestness of his creative negotiations, and the vivid snapshots of European life that colour his prose. It is an intimate portrait of a storyteller still searching for the next chapter, offering a rare glimpse into the mind behind the celebrated tales.